Tip Leads To Arrest In Robbery

March 09, 1995|By DAVID CHERNICKY Daily Press

NEWPORT NEWS — After receiving a Crime Line tip about a man selling stolen jewelry at a Denbigh apartment, Newport News police went to the apartment Tuesday and arrested a suspect in a jewelry store robbery in February.

Ronnie Bell, 32, of Diplomat Apartments, was charged with robbery, using a firearm in the commission of a felony and for failing to appear in court on an assault charge, police said.

A court document used to secure a search warrant quoted the Crime Line caller saying he ``believes a black male selling jewelry at Diplomat Apartments, 13762 Warwick Boulevard, is responsible for the jewelry robbery at the Gold and Variety Shop.''

The caller gave a brief description of the man and his car Monday. Detective Richard Gaddis, who investigated the case, said the caller had read about the case in the Daily Press.

Richard W. Kruse, owner of the jewelry store, told police that a black male entered the store about 12:15 p.m. Feb. 10. The man pointed a pistol at Kruse and demanded money and jewelry, Gaddis wrote in the affidavit.

Kruse estimated the value of the stolen jewelry at $50,000.

A search of the apartment turned up a large assortment of necklaces, bracelets, rings, rope chains and other jewelry. Police also found two bullets.

Investigators think Bell sold or pawned most of the property. ``He certainly had plenty of time to,'' Gaddis said.

Bell is a felon from New York, according to the affidavit. He had been living in the apartment on McMorrow Drive with a woman, who had charged Bell with assaulting her.